smile
HighNeutral (used in all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
A facial expression formed primarily by turning the corners of the mouth upward, often indicating pleasure, friendliness, amusement, or approval.
To express a positive feeling, attitude, or intention through one's expression, demeanor, or action; to appear favourably; to bestow (something) with an expression of pleasure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word can function as both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it is often intransitive but can be used transitively with an object (e.g., 'smiled her thanks'). The expression can be genuine or forced, leading to distinctions like 'genuine smile' vs. 'polite smile' or 'wry smile'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or grammar. Minor lexical variations in associated phrases (e.g., 'smile like a Cheshire cat' is more common in UK English).
Connotations
Largely identical positive connotations. Both use it as a primary marker of friendliness and approachability.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] (intransitive)[V] + at + [O][V] + on/upon + [O] (formal/dated)[V] + [O] (transitive, e.g., 'He smiled his agreement')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “smile from ear to ear”
- “wipe the smile off someone's face”
- “smile like a Cheshire cat”
- “fortune smiles on someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in corporate culture to denote approachability and positive customer relations (e.g., 'service with a smile').
Academic
Less frequent. May appear in psychological, sociological, or linguistic studies of nonverbal communication.
Everyday
Extremely common in all social interactions as a basic signal of friendliness and emotion.
Technical
Used in fields like computer vision (facial recognition) and psychology (Duchenne smile).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She smiled politely at the neighbour.
- The weather finally smiled on our bank holiday picnic.
- He smiled his thanks as he accepted the award.
American English
- He smiled at the memory.
- Fortune smiled on their new venture.
- She just smiled and said nothing.
adverb
British English
- He spoke smilingly about his childhood.
- She answered smilingly, hiding her disappointment.
American English
- 'Of course,' he said smilingly.
- She smilingly accepted the criticism.
adjective
British English
- She had a very smile-inducing story.
- He gave a smile-free performance.
- It was a smile-filled afternoon.
American English
- They offer smile-friendly customer service.
- It was a smile-worthy achievement.
- He has a very smiley face.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby smiled at her mother.
- He has a nice smile.
- Smile for the camera!
- She couldn't help but smile when she saw the puppy.
- His joke brought a smile to everyone's face.
- Despite the pain, he managed a weak smile.
- The director smiled upon the new initiative, promising full support.
- Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes, betraying her true feelings.
- He smiled wryly, acknowledging the irony of the situation.
- The data, for once, smiled favourably on their hypothesis.
- She smiled a thin, calculating smile that made him uneasy.
- Beneath his smiling exterior lay a mind sharpened by decades of negotiation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'mile' in 'smile'. A smile can make someone feel good for a mile.
Conceptual Metaphor
HAPPINESS IS UP (turned-up mouth), POSITIVE EMOTIONS ARE WARMTH (warm smile), FAVOUR IS A SMILING FACE (fortune smiled on us).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'smile' as a direct translation for 'улыбка' in contexts like 'улыбка судьбы' (quirk of fate) or 'улыбка фортуны' (stroke of luck), where 'smile of fortune' is archaic. 'Улыбаться' is strictly intransitive in Russian, but English 'smile' can be transitive ('He smiled a welcome').
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She smiled me.' Correct: 'She smiled at me.'
- Incorrect: 'He gave a smile laugh.' Correct: 'He gave a smiling laugh' or 'He laughed and smiled.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common collocation with 'smile'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a regular verb: smile, smiled, smiled.
Yes, in a literary or formal style, e.g., 'She smiled her approval.' However, the more common pattern is intransitive or with 'at' (smile at someone).
A 'grin' is typically a broader, more energetic, and often unrestrained smile that shows the teeth. A 'smile' can be subtler and more varied in intensity.
It's a formal or idiomatic phrase meaning 'to be favourable towards' or 'to bestow favour on,' often used with abstract subjects like fortune, luck, or the gods.
Collections
Part of a collection
Emotions and Feelings
A2 · 33 words · Words to describe how you feel.